AMAZON’SHOME
AND CARTAKEOVER
The purposeofCESseemed, from Amazon’s
perspective,toget its Alexa digital assistant
inside as many piecesofhardware as possible.
Samsungand Skyworth announced that Alexa
would be integrated as standard in their new
TVs, allowing themtoact almost as giant Echo
Show screens, andalong listofthird-party
manufacturersfollowed suit.From new smart
light bulbs from PhilipstoChamberlain’s garage
door opening system and OneLife’sPureOneair
purifier,you can expect Alexa support in all
mannerofhomeproducts in 2020.
The assistant is also expanding further into
cars. Amazon announcedapartnership with
Lamborghini and Rivian that would see Alexa
helping out with music playback, navigation and
things like seat heating and lighting control in
upcoming vehicles. The Echo Auto,a$50 (£38)
device that adds more limited hands-free Alexa
controlstoany car,will also be sold worldwide
after launching in the US latelastyear.SUUNTOBUCKLESUP
ANDROIDWEAR
Finnish firm Suuntoisbest knownforitsdiving watches, but its
CES headliner–the Suunto7–isarare step intomainstream
fitnesswatches. It also represents the first time Suuntohas
forgone its own software infavourofGoogle’sWear OS.
Costing £479,it’s not cheap,but it’s
loaded with trackingtech, is
waterproofto50metres (as
you might expect, given its
pedigree) and claims quite
the serious battery life.
Suuntosaysitcan
provide upto12 hours
ofcontinuous GPS
tracking, something
that’sfamouslyterrible
forsmartwatch longevity.
The AppleWatchSeries 5
only manages halfofthat,
so you’re realistically looking
at several days’ worthof
regular mixed use.
TICPODSGETSMART
Mobvoi unveiled its latest true wireless headphones, and
they’re quiteadeparture from the TicPodsFree (Shopper375).
The TicPods2Free,whichbythe time you read this will have
launchedfor£120, ditch any removable tips and have instead
assumed an Apple AirPods-style design wherebytheysit loosely
in your ear insteadofpoking right
down intothe ear canal.
There’s alsoahostofnew
smartfeatures. Siri and
Google Assistant are both
supported, depending on
your connected smartphone,
and the headphones also have
their own TicHear voice
controls. These let you give
voice commandstocontrol
playback without the need
forawake word: simply
saying ‘playmusic’
or ‘next song’
will perform
the action.d of poking right
he ear canal.
re’salsoahostofnew
features.Siriand
Assistant are both
ted, depending on
onnected smartphone,
e headphonesalsohave
wnTicHear voice
s. These let you give
ommandstocontrol
ckwithout the need
akeword:simply
‘playmusic’
t song’
rform
ion.